By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, October 9, 2024
Wimbledon will say good-bye to line judges and welcome electronic line-calling technology for all qualifying and main-draw matches in 2025.
Photo credit: Rob Newell/CameraSport
Wimbledon will draw the line on lines judges.
The grass-court Grand Slam will say good-bye to line judges and welcome electronic line calling on all courts for all qualifying and main-draw matches. It will mark the debut of electronic line calling in Wimbledon qualifying.
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The decision to adopt live electronic line calling was made "following the successful completion of extensive testing during this year’s Championships and builds on the existing ball tracking and line calling technology that has been in place for many years," the All England Lawn Tennis Club announced today.
Today's announcement marks the end of an era.
All 137 editions of The Championships have featured line judges. That time-honored tradition ends in 2025 as Wimbledon officials say the lightning speed of today's tennis— and placing a premium on accuracy in line calling— necessitates electronic line calling technology.
Executives say the time is right to make the move to ensure maximum accuracy in officiating.
“The decision to introduce Live Electronic Line Calling at The Championships was made following a significant period of consideration and consultation,” All England Club Chief Executive Sally Bolton said. “Having reviewed the results of the testing undertaken at The Championships this year, we consider the technology to be sufficiently robust and the time is right to take this important step in seeking maximum accuracy in our officiating.
"For the players, it will offer them the same conditions they have played under at a number of other events on tour.
"We take our responsibility to balance tradition and innovation at Wimbledon very seriously. Line umpires have played a central role in our officiating set-up at The Championships for many decades and we recognize their valuable contribution and thank them for their commitment and service.”
Wimbledon entering the digital line-calling age means Roland Garros will be the only one of the four Grand Slam tournaments, which will still use the human eye—and sometimes touch—to inspect ball marks and making line calling.
When the Australian Open joined the US Open adopting line-calling technology—the AO did it on all courts—many players and fans welcomed tennis joining other major sports adopting electronic line calling.
Some skeptics wonder if pro tennis' digital embrace will ultimately hurt the sport at the lower levels as eliminating officials from majors may well reduce the pool of people who train and become certified linespeople, which in turn can hurt tennis at its lower levels.
The SW19 landscape and schedule will offer significant changes next summer.
Wimbledon also announced a major adjustment to its final championship weekend schedule.
The gentlemen’s and ladies’ doubles finals will move to 1 pm starts, followed by the ladies’ and gentlemen’s singles finals at 4 pm, on the second Saturday and Sunday respectively.
Previously, Wimbledon's ladies' and gentlemen's singles finals started at 2 p.m. The time change was made, officials say, in an effort to ensure the largest viewing audience for the Wimbledon singles finals.
“We have adjusted the provisional schedule for the final weekend of The Championships with the ambition of improving the experience for all involved," Chief Executive Sally Bolton said. "The doubles players competing in the finals will have increased certainty over their schedule and fans will enjoy each day’s play as it builds towards the crescendo of the ladies’ and gentlemen’s singles finals, with our champions being crowned in front of the largest possible worldwide audience.”